Lamp consisting of modular elements

ABSTRACT

A lamp comprised of modular elements for selected assembly to provide a multiplicity of lamp forms. Said elements comprehend a cylindric element with planar parallel ends, a toroid sector element, and a bulb-carrying element or hood; there being means integral with said elements for stable interfitting relationship but which permit of ease of disengagement.

United States Patent [191 Menichetti I 11] 3,798,438 [451 Mar. 19, 1974 1 1 LAMP CONSISTING OF MODULAR ELEMENTS [76] Inventor: Piero Menichetti, Piazza S. Romano 10, Lucca, Italy 22 Filed: Nov.26, 1971 211 Appl.No.:202,433

[52] US. Cl. 240/10 R, 240/73 BJ, D48/3l R 3,373,964 3/1968 Bonders 240/81 R 3,244,868 4/1966 Goetz v 240/81 R 2,521,355 9/1950 Ford... 240/81 R 2,950,892 10/1960 Rick 240/73 BJ Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Russell E. Adams, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmRalph W. Kalish [57] ABSTRACT A lamp comprised of modular elements for selected assembly to provide a multiplicity of lamp forms. Said elements comprehend a cylindric element with planar parallel ends, a toroid sector element, and abulbcarrying element or hood; there being means integral with said elements for stable interfitting relationship but which permit of ease of disengagement.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 19 m4 3; 798/138 sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR.

Pl ERO MENICHETTI BY w DATENTEUMAR 1 9 m4 3798Q438 sum 2 or 2 INVENTOR.

PIERO MENICHETTI BY w LAMP CONSISTING OF MODULAR ELEMENTS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a lamp comprised of modular elements.

The main purpose of the invention resides in the provision of a lamp by which numerous different conformations, sizes and styles thereof can be developed, but with a small number of modular elements and being thus adapted for manifold purposes and applications.

In particular another object of the invention is to provide for the formation of different shapes, all sound and functional, from the association of the same elements, by reason of assembling the bulb-carrying element in a variety of different ways.

The above and other purposes are attained by the modular element lamp designed and constructed according to the invention; which lamp is essentially characterized in that it comprises one or more modular ele- 'ments which may be either similarly or differently shaped and with the said elements capable of being assembled. into various mutual positional relationships due to a common tubular shapewith a circular crosssection.

According to the invention, two fundamental modular elements are shaped as a cylinder with planar parallel ends and. as a toroid sector, respectively, while a third fundamental modular element constitutes a bulbcarrying hood which, having a circular section common to the other elements, can be assembled at different angularities with respect to the adjacent modular element by being turned about the common axis of the modular elements..-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS comprised of two elements but illustrating a different relationship from that shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the lamp as being constituted of but a single modular element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A, B, and C are tubularly shaped modular lamp elements and more precisely; A designates a cylindrical element with planar parallel ends or bases which are open; B designates a toroid sector-shaped element; and C indicates a hood-forming element wherein the bulb L is fitted. As can be noted in FIG. 1, a lamp incorporating the aforesaid three fundamental modular elements is shown, and each of the modules A, B incorporate at one of their ends a tapered projection l of relatively reduced diameter for reception within a mating recess formed on the opposite end of each element. In more detail projection 1 comprises a cylindric the related element and having a diameter reduced by an amount equal to the thickness of such elements; there being a discontinuous portion formed by radially extending ridges lb at the ends of said projections. The opposite or recess-forming end of each modular element is conversely formed with radially extending ridges 2 which are adapted for abutment with the mating ridges 1b of the adjacent element. By the foregoing, a firm and aesthetically attractive connection is' obtained. It is, of course, understood that the bulb-remote 'end of hood C is provided with a mating recess or female shape having the ridges 2. The ovoid shaped opposite end of hood C is closed by a glass paraboloid 3 receiving the bulb L with all requisite accessories being suitably fitted within hood C. The lamp as shown in FIG. 2 is comprised of hood C, two toroid elements B, two cylindric elements A, and an additional cylindrical element A having a height equal to one-half of that of element A.

The lamp as shown in FIG. 3 comprises but a single toroid-shaped element B and hood C which latter is turned through an angle of 180 with respect to the position of hood C as shown in the lamp in FIGS. 1 and 2 thus endowing the lamp of FIG. 3- with a generally S- shaped profile. A disc-foot P having a diameter equal to that of the modular elements is connected to the hood-remote end of element B for supporting the lamp. It is apparent that said elements B and C as in common with all other elements in any of the myriad potential relationships may be interconnected with any desired angular relationships as through angles of 30, 40, or 90, etc. as distinct from that shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates thelamp withhood C turned through an angle of 90 with respect to the adjacent modular element and from that illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention which comprises hood C onlyas supported by foot P which latter has a diameter slightly less than that of the base of hood C.

From the foregoing it is obvious that innumerable other forms of the lamp may be developed by causing the component elements to be connected vin any of myriad ways. Thus, for example, a very fashionable lamp may be obtained by coupling two hoods C with abutting bases P and with upwardly directed glasses 3,

and securing them to a vertical support. Likewise manyv other types can be obtained by combining one or more modular elements of different types with one another. All of the above described embodiments as well as all potential ones are suitable for usage, among others, as desk-, wall-, and stand-lamps.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain Letters Patent for is:

1. A modular lamp comprised of a plurality of discrete components for assemblage into end to end relationship, each component having an upper end and a lower end and being generally circular in cross-section portion la extending coaxially with the outer surface of at such upper and lower ends, each component having a sidewall and a downwardly opening recess at its lower end, all but one remaining of said components having a projection at its upper end of reduced cross-section relative to such component end for reception within the recess at the lower end of the immediately superimposed component, the relative dimensions of the cooperating recess and projection being such as to permit rotation of one component about its axis independently of any other component for selected positioning of one component relative to the other, said remaining one of said components having a recess at its lower end, means defining a hood on the upper end of said remaining one component said hood having a translucent element, and illuminating means provided in said remaining one component and positioned to project light through said element.

2. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by each component being of tubular character, said components being of like diameter at their lower ends, and of like diameter at their upper ends adjacent to the respective projections.

3. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by means provided internally of the lower end of each component for abutting the end margin of the projection of the adjacent component for limiting the relative reception of the same within the related recess.

4. A modular lamp as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by each of said projections being disposed radially inwardly of the side wall of the associated component, an endwise directed shoulder extending between each projection and the related side wall, the end margin of the lower end portion of the adjacent component being presented radially outwardly of the received projection and abutting said shoulder.

5. A modular lamp as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said abutting means comprising ridges presented internally of, and spacedly from, the lower end portion of each component for extension radially inwardly from the side wall thereof for abutting the end margin of the received projection.

6. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the component immediately adjacent said one remaining component having a curvilinear axis defining an angle of less than 7. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the component immediately adjacent said one remaining component having its longitudinal axis turned through an angle of approximately 45.

8. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the two components adjacent said one remaining component each having their longitudinal.

axes turned through an angle of approximately 45.

050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,798J438 Dated March 19, l9 74 Inventor S) Pie'r'o' Menichetti It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Front Page, after [21] Appl. No.: 156,887 insert:

---[30] Foreign Application Priority Data lo o 0 o o o o o o Signed end sealed this 13th day of August 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR y C MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A modular lamp comprised of a plurality of discrete components for assemblage into end to end relationship, each component having an upper end and a lower end and being generally circular in cross-section at such upper and lower ends, each component having a sidewall and a downwardly opening recess at its lower end, all but one remaining of said components having a projection at its upper end of reduced cross-section relative to such component end for reception within the recess at the lower end of the immediately superimposed component, the relative dimensions of the cooperating recess and projection being such as to permit rotation of one component about its axis independently of any other component for selected positioning of one component relative to the other, said remaining one of said components having a recess at its lower end, means defining a hood on the upper end of said remaining one component said hood having a translucent element, and illuminating means provided in said remaining one component and positioned to project light through said element.
 2. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized bY each component being of tubular character, said components being of like diameter at their lower ends, and of like diameter at their upper ends adjacent to the respective projections.
 3. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by means provided internally of the lower end of each component for abutting the end margin of the projection of the adjacent component for limiting the relative reception of the same within the related recess.
 4. A modular lamp as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by each of said projections being disposed radially inwardly of the side wall of the associated component, an endwise directed shoulder extending between each projection and the related side wall, the end margin of the lower end portion of the adjacent component being presented radially outwardly of the received projection and abutting said shoulder.
 5. A modular lamp as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said abutting means comprising ridges presented internally of, and spacedly from, the lower end portion of each component for extension radially inwardly from the side wall thereof for abutting the end margin of the received projection.
 6. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the component immediately adjacent said one remaining component having a curvilinear axis defining an angle of less than 180*.
 7. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the component immediately adjacent said one remaining component having its longitudinal axis turned through an angle of approximately 45*.
 8. A modular lamp as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the two components adjacent said one remaining component each having their longitudinal axes turned through an angle of approximately 45*. 